Letter to the Editor: What are unidimensional political opinions worth?
A recent opinion piece by Alex Perry suggested a paywall to increase staff pay at The Daily. Perry correctly asked the question, “Is what we’re producing worth paying for?” As an alumnus who does not currently reside in Illinois and who does not have a journalism background but who has published several opinion pieces in The Daily through the years, I offer this perspective: in its current state, I do not believe The Daily is worth paying for.
The primary purpose that I read The Daily is to inform myself of the state of an institution, Northwestern University, that I was affiliated with for many years and that I hold high affection for. Major University events are often covered by Chicago newspapers, such as the Tribune and the Sun-Times. Therefore, one of the stronger enticements to read The Daily is the opinion section. Albeit biased, it provides a useful glimpse into campus life.
Perry: The News Needs Jesus
Although Northwestern isn’t a religious institution, religion is a key dynamic and power structure within our community, and it’s worth dedicating newsroom resources to educating our reporters on it.
Gaps in religious knowledge in newsrooms operate to a publication’s detriment. Without religious awareness, staffers are prone to blunders that damage an institution’s reputation and credibility. On the 19th anniversary of 9/11, New York Times columnist and Nobel Memorial Prize recipient Paul Krugman tweeted: “Overall, Americans took 9/11 pretty calmly. Notably, there wasn’t a mass outbreak of anti-Muslim sentiment and violence, which could all too easily have happened.”